The Portland City Council unanimously agreed Monday to lease the Portland Exposition Building to a group of investors that wants to bring an NBA Development League team to Maine's largest city. The agreement covers five seasons, 2009-10 through 2013-14, with an option to renew for five more seasons. The team will pay $250,000 for building improvements and be responsible for all team-related operating costs at the Expo. The investors have said they hope to become an affiliate of the Boston Celtics.

This is great news.

I am a big fan of the NBA's D-League but I think there are many things the league can do to improve it. I'm sure the goal of the league is to be a basketball version of baseball's minor leagues.

It's far from that, but I think it can catch on with NBA fanatics. The problem with the Celtics' D-League team in Utah is, well, that it's in Utah. A minor league team based in Portland works extremely well for the Boston Red Sox and I can't imagine it being any different for the Celtics.